Did a Little Bit....

Good Morning Alice!
Yesterday was filled with lots of 'To Do's' and I did get to Lois's studio to pick up some more colors which she generously shared for the short term, so I have other colors to try with this color gamp. Sadly, I was clearly in a rush when threading and there are a few faux paus w/ the color mixes. I also recall that my head felt like a rock (read: I was coming down w/ a cold back in early May) the day we were measuring warp, and clearly I didn't count threads in the color mix sections very well. The next time I do something like this, I will be fastidious!

So...I wove a little too late into the night, and oh! such fun to try different combinations.


Are there already little signs that Autumn is coming (even though the temperatures feel like summer)?

Later,
Nancy

ps I received a letter from my cousin on Thursday (the one who is undergoing chemo and who got the sox w/the heart on the sole). It was so good to hear from him! He's doing pretty well with the chemo.

Ready to Weave!

But, Alice, I was only able to weave about an inch. I had forgotten to wind off one of the many colors in the warp. 16 people in the class to make samples for (including me). Tomorrow I will go retrieve the color I need from Lois.

Tomorrow I will once again go door to door to get out the vote for the August 5th Primary. Doug & I walked for about 4 hours again today, and with the temperature at almost 90, it does take its toll. Still, I am enjoying every minute of it!

Yours until I can show you something,
Nancy

Summer Colors

Alice...the end of July is coming fast, and I have a warp to finish threading, denting, and to weave. 'Tis the color warp that I created in Lois Bryant's Marvelous, Magical Color for Weavers. This is a workshop that Lois taught to the Warped Wo/men study group in the Guild. It was marvelous, marvelous, marvelous! We studied luminosity, reflectivity, transparency, and irridescence, and Lois's lecture and photos were magical illustrations of these phenomena.

I will be taking the 'Shimmering Silks' workshop with Heather Winslow at the Michigan League of Handweavers workshops, scheduled for early August, so 'tis time to get this beautiful warp going and off so that I can be ready for the next learning. And finally, Sarah Saulson will be giving her painted warp workshop two weeks after that for the Warped Wo/men study group.

Scott and I stopped at Greenfield Village on our way back from Dearborn this afternoon...the jacquard loom is in full operation! Richard Jeryan has worked over the past three years to bring it back to life. He is now weaving on it...using a pattern that was woven at Greenfield Village early in its history, though (rightly so) he has changed the year in the edge border. Richard is excited about having weavers come to the Village for workshops, lectures, study. He will be lecturing at the Historic Weaving Conference in Clayton next Spring. Exciting stuff. Alice, he would love to meet you and have you come to the Weaving shop at Greenfield Village!

More later. I really must get the warp threaded and dented and ready to weave.

Lovely summer days....
Nancy

A VERY Good Day

Dear Alice,

Imagine that everything goes just as you had hoped in a day.... Today was one of those days! Today I was endorsed by the local newspaper for the office I am seeking with the very capable, remarkable Team for Scio.
Photo by Dr. Irwin Martin
Four of our Team members were also endorsed by the Home Builders Association. Today was the first day of the Art Fair...I worked the Fiberarts Guild's booth from 3-9:30, and today was the first day that I sold one of my favorite pieces, the shawl that I wrote about in my June 10th postcard.

Less than three weeks to go until the August 5th Primary, the day that will tell the tale! Miles of walking door-to-door, and I am really enjoying meeting and talking with our neighbors and the residents of Scio, for whom I have been working (on the Planning Commission and Board of Review) for years.

I am really too tired at this hour, and can hardly remember what I was saying/doing, so will end this note here and plan to write again soon.

Kramar,
Nancy

Summer Pleasures

Alpine strawberries

Summertime frolics

Friends Playing

Balloonflowers

Chris Craft rides

Lake Ann sunrises

Summer Grilling

Art Fairs

Hummingbirds

Emergence

Alice,

The lawn area, in fact...almost every surface, was covered with the dried skins of the dragonfly nymphs. I was lucky enough to catch one just as it emerged. Can you see how tiny its wings are when working his way out?

And later, a fully realized dragonfly glistening in the sun. I love looking at their eyes. Can you imagine gazing at the world from their perspective?

Love to you in this 97th year!
Nancy

Happy Belated 97th Birthday, Alice!

July 5th came and went quickly, Alice. Did my Birch postcard arrive in time? I hope you had a wonderful birthday and this coming year will be a little kinder to you. The last one has been a doozy (to use your words), hasn't it? I am wondering if you have had a chance to do a little weaving on that beautiful red warp you showed the Chicks when we were there last.

I am back at home where the looms are, so am looking forward to getting back to finishing off some fabric.



The Loon chicks were still at the lake and they grew so fast whilst we were there this week. They stayed in the vicinity of our cottage most of the time since the week of July 4 is often a busy one with lots of boaters, jet-skiers, and fishermen/women, so we had front row seats every day.

More to come....
nancy